Shocking news has come out of Libya. Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, son of the late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, was reportedly killed in an alleged assassination in the city of Zintan, western Libya, on Tuesday (February 3, 2026) evening.
This news was first reported by his lawyer, Khaled al-Zaidi, and his advisor, Abdullah Osman. According to local media reports, the attack took place at Saif al-Islam’s residence and was allegedly carried out by four unidentified individuals. Before the attack was launched, surveillance cameras (CCTV) at the location were reportedly deliberately disabled by the perpetrators.
The Libyan Attorney General’s Office has now opened an official investigation into the reported murder. As of now, details of the incident remain unclear, and Libyan government authorities have not provided any confirmation or official statement regarding the fate of the son of the Gaddafi regime.
Former Gaddafi regime spokesman Moussa Ibrahim expressed his anger in a post on social media.
“They killed him brutally when he wanted a united and sovereign Libya, safe for all its people. They killed hope and the future, and planted hatred and hostility,” Ibrahim wrote.
He added that the motive behind the killing was to create more bloodshed and division in Libya for the benefit of foreign parties.
On the other hand, the “444th Brigade,” affiliated with the Ministry of Defense of the Government of National Unity, issued a firm statement. They denied any involvement in the matter.
Saif al-Islam is known to have been living in Zintan since his arrest during the 2011 revolution. Although he was released in 2017, his exact location has always been kept secret from the public for security reasons.
Saif al-Islam’s death, if confirmed, would be a major blow to Libya’s political landscape. In recent years, his name has resurfaced as a strong candidate in the presidential election, which is expected to end the country’s prolonged crisis.
Currently, Libya remains divided into two main forces: the western region (Tripoli), under the leadership of Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh, and the eastern region (Benghazi), under the control of Osama Hammad, who was appointed by parliament.
This incident is feared to trigger new instability amid international efforts to reunify the oil-rich country.
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